NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A 54-year-old driver died after a large chunk of concrete – apparently thrown off a Tennessee bridge – smashed through his windshield early Tuesday, according to police.
Joe C. Shelton Jr., of Pleasant View, was on his way to work at a Nissan plant in Smyrna when the large chunk crashed through the glass of his Nissan GT-R sports car just before 5 a.m., hitting him in the face, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department says.
Shelton lost control of his vehicle and sideswiped a Toyota pickup truck and guardrail along I-24 before coming to a stop.
"At this point in the investigation, it appears likely that the chunk of concrete was thrown from the Shelby Avenue Bridge," police said in a news release. Tennessee Department of Transportation bridge inspectors found that the concrete was not part of the structure.
Inspectors believe the concrete appears similar to a roadway curb.
Officials at the Nissan plant gave WSMV this statement:
Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance video but do not yet have a suspect. They are asking anyone with information to call the anonymous police hotline Crime Stoppers at (615) 742-7463 to qualify for a cash reward.